Stakeholders Urges Obaseki to Constitute AAU Governing Council

By Lucky Isibor

A group of concerned individuals under the aegis of Stakeholders, including staff, students, parents and host communities of the crisis-ridden Ambrose Alli  University, Ekpoma has called on Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to as a matter of urgency constitute a Governing Council for the institution at the expiration of the tenure of the Special Intervention Team (SIT) put in place.

It will be recalled that  two years ago, the Visitor to Ambrose Alli University(AAU), Ekpoma, Governor Obaseki replaced the Governing Council of the University with the Special Intervention Team (SIT) against the expectation and wish of many primary stakeholders of the University. 

In response to the numerous crises plaguing the University, the Visitor to the University in an attempt to rescue the University from disaster called for an elaborate stakeholders’ meeting which was held on 16th March, 2023. At the stakeholders’ meeting, the voice of stakeholders (including staff and students of the University, politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders, business men and women, retirees of the University, Staff Unions of the University, Civil Society Organizations and legal luminaries) was loud and clear on the issues in discourse.

According to the group, "One of the issues was on whether or not SIT should be replaced with a Governing Council. On this issue, the thunderous and unanimous voice of the stakeholders that SIT should be dissolved was such that the Governor issued ninety (90) days ultimatum to SIT to conclude its activities in the University to pave way for the constitution and inauguration of a Governing Council. From 16th March, 2023 to date, 90 days have gone without the implementation of the decision on SIT."

Stakeholders of the crisis-ridden institution have kicked against the inaction of the Governor in respect of his decision on the tenure of SIT in AAU, Ekpoma during the aforesaid meeting.

"We also expressed dissatisfaction over the non-implementation of the decision of the Governor during the same stakeholders’ meeting to inaugurate the Panel constituted to deal with the various crises plaguing the University. Also, many staff of the University are not happy with the non-reinstatement of two members of academic staff that were retired or disengaged unduly by SIT against the backdrop of the Governor’s pronouncement that the retirement or disengagement was “illegal, null and void”.

According to some angry stakeholders, “If after 90 days of the stakeholders’ meeting, the Governor reneged on his decisions to inaugurate the Panel on crises in the University and end the tenure of SIT in the University, there is a breach of the trust that was reposed in the Visitor.

"Was the Governor up to politics when he made those decisions?” some have queried. Some members of staff of the University have pointed to the importance of the position of ‘Visitor’ as the highest authority in the University and that with reference to the decisions of the Visitor at the stakeholders’ meeting his pronouncements, particularly on SIT and the Panel on crises in the University should not fall to the mud. 

"If this is allowed to happen, then the University has collapsed totally”, they said. The demand of stakeholders is the immediate dissolution of SIT and the constitution of a governing council to manage the affairs of the University.

It will be recalled that the SIT has been in the news since it came on board in the University. Many stakeholders, particularly staff of the University have alleged that SIT has failed in its Government-given mandate to source for funds for the University and make it financially stable. They claimed that the tenure and activities of the SIT have rather taken a toll on the meagre finances of the University as evidenced by bogus allowances to members of SIT through frequent meetings/sittings outside statutory provisions. In addition, they alleged that because SIT is not knowledgeable in university administration, they have exhibited usurpation of powers/functions of various organs/officers of the University; high handedness; decimation of university autonomy, culture and ethos; humiliation, intimidation and victimization of staff and the use of propaganda and half-truths to manage the crises in the University.

It has been reported that since SIT assumed the functions and duties of the University’s Bursary, the University has witnessed selective payment of staff salaries/pay-cut for no just cause. Names of some staff have been removed from the University’s payroll without following due process. As of the time of this report, staff unions of the University have disclosed that some of their members have not been paid salaries for seventeen (17) months and other categories of months. They claimed that their affected members were not tried or found guilty of any offence to justify such denial of their salaries. The staff unions have also complained of illegal alteration of the salary structure of staff and the non-remittance of staff unions’ check-off dues deducted by the University Administration for several months. Investigations have also revealed that the payment of staff salaries by SIT has resulted in duplication of payment of monthly salaries to staff in some cases due to poor record keeping and the selective pattern of payment - a development many described as unwholesome.

In May this year, SIT presented an interim report to the Governor of Edo state claiming to have unearthed fraud, malpractices and misconduct by some staff. Many staff dismissed the report as political and a ploy to kill the 90 days ultimatum given to them by the Governor to end their tenure in the University. For example, the report that staff of the University are not paying tax when taxes are deducted from the source of their monthly salaries was described as false, misleading and laughable. The SIT’s report that did not give comprehensive information on the University’s income and expenditure on a monthly basis was also criticized as a deliberate action to conceal the salary crisis in the University.

Currently, there is tension in AAU, Ekpoma over the continuing tenure of SIT that is composed of many members who are not knowledgeable in university matters.  Stakeholders have kicked against this development and implored the Governor of Edo State to remember that his decision to end the tenure of SIT after 90 days ultimatum given at the stakeholders’ meeting of 16th March this year in the full glare of all stakeholders of the University was in the right direction. .

Reacting, the Spokesperson of Ambrose Alli University,Ekpoma ,Lawrence Isiraojie confirmed the alleged meeting of the Governor with the school's stakeholders,where SIT  was reportedly given 90 days ultimatum to wind up its activities  to give way to the constitution of proper Governing Council. 

According to Isiraojie, "the SIT (Special Intervention Team) was established by Edo State Government. It's also true that  the Governor held a meeting with the stakeholders, where he gave SIT  90 days ultimatum to wind up its  activities, but  I don't know if their tenure has expired or not. Honestly, I don't have the information of whether the SIT tenure has expired or not ".

.